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Biomedical subjects

R Hopkins

Publications and source records attributed to R Hopkins.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Evaluation of methods to estimate cigarette smoke uptake.

Exposure to tobacco smoke is measured by a variety of invasive and noninvasive techniques. Our purpose was to examine how well some of these measures correlated when obtained simultaneously from the same subjects. On three occasions, six subjects were studied while they were smoking a single cigarette after 24 hr of abstinence. There were positive correlations between increases in heart rate and plasma nicotine concentrations and between percentage carboxyhemoglobin and exhaled carbon monoxide. Although residual cotinine was readily detected in samples of plasma before the subjects smoked, there was an increase in mean levels, with a peak approximately 1 hr after smoking. Urinary concentrations of nicotine, cotinine, and nicotine-1'-N-oxide and thiocyanate levels in plasma and saliva were essentially unchanged by smoking a single cigarette. Data on smoke generation and nicotine retention in cigarette butts correlated poorly with all other measures of smoke uptake.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Attempt to modify klebsiella carriage in ankylosing spondylitic patients by diet: correlation of klebsiella carriage with disease activity.

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis were asked to follow a 'klebsiella exclusion diet' for 5 months of a 10-month study. The same percentage of faecal samples were positive for klebsiella whether the patients were on or off the experimental diet. The diet also failed to influence variability of klebsiella serotypes. We found no correlation between acquisition of klebsiella and deterioration of disease symptoms, as recorded by the patients. Furthermore, carriage of klebsiella did not correlate with any of the following parameters of disease activity measured in the outpatient clinic: morning stiffness, pain measured on a visual analogue scale, analgesic consumption, ESR, total serum IgA. We found no evidence, therefore, that faecal klebsiella is involved in disease exacerbations of ankylosing spondylitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

How long should we talk to patients? A study in doctor-patient communication.

The 13 questions to which 173 rheumatic outpatients most frequently wished to know the answer were made the basis of a structured interview. Two lengths of interview were conducted in a controlled trial (short being of 2 minutes' duration, long ranging from 4 to 11 minutes). Sixty patients referred directly from their general practitioners, and not being in any of the remedial professions, were randomly assigned to one of the 2 groups. They were tested by an independent observer immediately after interview, and one month later at their return appointment, by means of a questionnaire that covered the 13 items of information given to all the patients. The longer interview resulted in significantly more information being retained. Of individual questions only 3 scored significantly better with the longer interview--that about the reasons for x-rays immediately after interview, and the role of heredity and the place of rest at delayed recall.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Selection of plasma for hepatitis B immune globulin using a low cost radioimmunoassay.

Polystyrene beads coated with pasteurised polyethylene glycol-precipitated HBsAg were used to detect anti-HBs by a solid phase inhibition assay employing unreacted 125I-anti-HBs which had previously been "processed" by polyethylene glycol precipitation and used to test for the HBsAg. A weak anti-HBs (approximately 0.1 IU/ml) positive control was used to establish a target level of reactivity. 16,035 freshly donated units of blood, a 90-sample coded anti-HBs panel and a selection of hyperimmune globulins were investigated. All positive results were confirmed by a standard commercial assay. Antibody content of selected samples was quantitated in international units. A target level of anti-HBs activity is suggested for donor plasma to be fractionated for the production of hepatitis B immune globulin.

Adsorption↗